Birth Center Stone Oak San Antonio Midwives and Support Staff

TRAINED SAN ANTONIO MIDWIVES AT YOUR SERVICE

Birth Center Stone Oak is staffed by dedicated and licensed San Antonio midwives ready to care for you and your family. Together we have over 27 years of experience as midwives and delivered/attended over 1000 births.

Our Valuable San Antonio Midwives and Team Members

Joi Brock, LM, CPMOwner/Clinical Director, Midwife

After my youngest became more independent I knew it was time to start preparing for the next stage of my life. I had a strong desire to serve women and to offer services that would support her experience in pregnancy and birth. It was a natural transition to care for women as they traveled their path of bringing their own children into the world.

I began working with pregnant couples in 1998 as a birth doula and licensed prenatal massage therapist. In January of 2004 I began my midwifery training and in February of 2006 I passed my national exam and received my state licensure as a midwife. From massage therapy to doula to childbirth educator and finally to midwifery – each journey added to the skills and information I could share with mothers and their families; to benefit them as they walked their own path through pregnancy and birth.

Over the years I have attended over 750 births – each being unique and amazing. My philosophy is to return honor, respect and empowerment back to where it has always belonged – to the mother!

I am extremely proud of the San Antonio midwives at Birth Center Stone Oak. It is always such a miracle to watch as a woman and her family work together to bring a new life into the world. The love, commitment and amazing power can be felt at each birth.

Aside from being a midwife, I am the mother of six beautiful children – five girls and one boy – ranging in age from 27 to 18. My youngest are identical twin girls. I am a very proud grandmother, “Oma,” too!

I knew at a very early age that I was destined to work with mothers and babies. I grew up being a caregiver and was very proactive in my mother’s births, attending the earliest Lamaze classes and La Leche League meetings with her. At the young age of 19, I immigrated to Germany where I married and birthed my children. My very first day in that country, my mother-in-law picked up my hands and said to me, “Du hast die Hände einer Hebamme!” translated, “You have the hands of a midwife!” That was the spark I needed to know what I would want to do the rest of my life.

I have multiple degrees in the sciences, have attended nursing school and I completed my midwifery training with the Association of Texas Midwives Midwifery Training Program after beginning my midwifery education in Germany. Since returning to Texas in 1994, I was one of the original doulas and doula trainer in San Antonio, and I have worked in local hospitals in nursing, as a childbirth and breastfeeding educator and staff doula. I am a clinical preceptor for the ATM Midwifery Training Program.

For many years, I have also focused my attention and knowledge on helping mothers of multiples birth their babies naturally and safely with midwifery care, and became nationally recognized for my work in multiple births. Birth is a blessed event and should be trusted just as we trust every breath we take.

Licensed Midwife since 2005

Nationally Certified Professional Midwife

Birth Doula since 1994

Preceptor for the ATM Midwifery Program

Rebecca Rasche, LM, CPMMidwife

After the traumatic birth of my oldest child, I began researching childbirth options, which led me to learn about midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options from a friend. I knew then that I wanted to become a midwife, and began reading all I could. I became a La Leche League Leader in 2002 and a birth doula in 2003. I started my midwifery training in 2004 and became a Licensed Midwife/Certified Professional Midwife in 2006. Since then, I’ve been privileged to be the primary midwife for 70 births and have assisted on an additional 130 births.

Because of my first birth experience, it is vitally important to me that each client feels heard and supported throughout her labor and delivery. Informed consent is a crucial aspect of my practice. The mother-baby bond is so important, and I do everything I can to foster this relationship.

I have 4 children, ranging in age from 9-20. My oldest 2 were born in the hospital, and my youngest were born at home with the assistance of the midwife who trained me.

I help train new San Antonio midwives through the Association of Texas Midwives, and I am also going back to school to study Public Health. In addition to my passion for delivering babies here in San Antonio, my dream is to travel throughout various developing countries and teach indigenous midwives techniques and skills that will save lives.

Licensed Midwife since 2006

Nationally Certified Professional Midwife

Birth Doula since 2003

Preceptor for the ATM Midwifery Program

Julie Hatfield, LM, CPMMidwife

Angela Gurno, MS, LPC, NCCTherapist

Working in the counseling field is a blessing to me, as is working with Birth Center Stone Oak. I previously had a private practice here in San Antonio and before that, I was fortunate to have several years experience in a broad variety of mental health and substance abuse settings.

My involvement with Birth Center Stone Oak began in 2012, and is close to my heart, not only because of the excellent work they are doing, but because being a parent myself, I know how important it is to have the right kind of support and understanding through this journey. Due to the change in dynamics within yourself, your family and especially physically to your body, there are sometimes issues that may arise where you need guidance and resources before and after the birth process. Often times we do need help to work through these difficulties in order to rebalance families, enhance our coping skills and thoughts, and increase our ability to enjoy and live life fully.

Angelina Artho D.C.Chiropractor

Angie Artho, D.C. has been a chiropractor for over 10 and loves to provide natural chiropractic care especially to children and pregnant women. Her specialization has allowed her to see the tremendous healing ability of these young bodies.

Dr. Artho attended Texas A&M University and received her bachelor’s degree in Agronomy in August 1999. After marrying and learning more about chiropractic she decided to pursue this great career and graduated from Parker College of Chiropractic (now Parker University) in January of 2004. Since then she has been delivering loving chiropractic care to countless patients.

She is married to Damian Artho, D.C. (Parker 2003) and has four kids, Allison, John, Nathan, and Aaron. A San Antonio native, she returned home over 4 years ago.

I began working for Birth Center Stone Oak before it even opened its doors! With two degrees in business management, Joi and her husband felt I would be a great asset to help start up and manage their business. While I had no prior experience working with midwives, being raised by one gave me excellent insight on what I was getting into. It has been an absolute joy working with the San Antonio midwives at Birth Center Stone Oak!

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University with an undergraduate degree in Business Management in 2008 and completed my Masters in Business Administration from the University of Texas San Antonio in 2010.

Outside of work, I am married to my college sweetheart and we have two precious children, who are often found hanging around the birth center.

Diane WorcesterOffice Manager

I’m known as “Grandma DeDe” around here. I joined Birth Center Stone Oak in October 2014 and I cannot imagine working in a place more oriented to families and their health and well being than here. I have a long history in the health care administrative setting along with some health care training thrown in. I am CPR certified for adults and infants, and I have my Emergency Medical Technician Basic certification. In 2012, I attended Galen College of Nursing and went on to obtain my Licensed Vocational Nursing license.

My husband, Steve, and I have been married over 19 years, and have four wonderful children, two beautiful daughter-in-laws and two amazing grandchildren.

I thoroughly enjoy working with Birth Center Stone Oak and all the families that grace our door. It’s as if my own family grows every day…